Show case



April 8, 1924. 1,489,565

w. J. WARKENTIEN SHOW CASE Filed April 14 1922 www Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES WALTER I. WARKENTIEN, or PARTI RIDGE, ILLINOIS.

SHOW CASE.

Application filed April 14, 1922. Serial No. 552,568.

To cz-ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WALTER J. VVARKEN- TIEN, a citizen of the United States, Yand a resident of Park Ridge, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain Vnew and useful Improvements in Show Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to im'- provements in show cases, but has especial reference to show cases for use in displaying box goods of which cigars are a typical example.

In selling cigars it is highly desirable to display them in the boxes, and also in such manner that the purchaser can view all of the cigars that are in the case, in a clear and unobstructed manner, the purpose being to enable the purchaser easily to choose or select the desired brand. It is also highly desirable that the b xes be so arranged that the clerk or salesman can quickly and easily remove the box containing the desired brand so that the purchaser can personally take the desired number. It is, of course., also necessary to provide a structure in which the boxes may be quickly and easily restored to their display position in thecase.

The 0'eneral object of my invention is to provide a show or display case wherewith goods can be displayed to the purchasers in a better manner to the end that the desired brand may be more easily viewed and selected.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a show case which shall enable the proper display of the Goods and which shall facilitate the work of tthe clerk or salesman in removing and replacing the goods.

Another object of my invention is to provide a show case wherewith the display and sale of the goods shall be enhanced and which shall be of such construction that it may be readily embodied in show cases of usual construction.

My invention consists generally in a show case of the form, arrangement, construction, and cooperation of the parts, whereby the above named objects, together with others that will appear hereinafter are attainable;

and my invention will be more readily un-V derstood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate what I consider, at the present time, to be the preferred embodiment thereof.

In said drawings: Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section through a show case embodying my invention, the parts being in display position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, except that the parts are in the position that they occupy to permit access to the goods.V

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. '2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a display shelf supporting member.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4. Y Y

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view through the display shelf at the place where it is supported by the device shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the shelf shown in Figf6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end view of the Y parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

lVhile my invention is usable for other purposes, I shall describe it particularly in conjunction with the sale of cigars, since it is particularly designed for that purpose. In purchasing a cigarit is common practice to keep the different brands in their respective boxes within the show case, the lids or covers being fixed or held in upright posifn tion. 'Ihe shelf or bottom upon which the boxes rest, in the constructions'heretoforeV provided, occupies afhorizontal plane. I W hile the purchaser can conveniently view the cigars in theV rst row of boxes, i. e. the" boxes closest to the front of the case, it is increasingly difiicult for one to view the cigars in the successive rearward rows. The purchaser having determined the cigar to be purchased, the clerk is expected to remove the entire box and place it uponthe counter or top of the show case so that the purchaser may personally choose the desired number.

It is, therefore, quite necessary that the` arrangements be such as to facilitate removal -and replacement upon the clerks part.

lReferring now to the drawings for .details of construction the show case, as here shown,

is provided Witha base portion 1, a lower storage chamber or compartment 2 mounted thereover, andan Aupper display compartment 3. The display compartment 3 is composed of a horizontal rigid bottom 4, aY glass top 5, and glass end and front walls 6 and 7 respectively. The frame structure for supporting the Vglass plates is or may be of usual or desired construction so that no detailed construction thereof will be given here.

At the rear, the show case is provided with a door 8 which, as here shown, is mounted for vertical sliding movement, being confined between the uprights 9 and lO of the show case frame. The door 8 is provided with a lock or latch 11 so that when it is moved to its upper position, being the position shown in Fig. 1, it is held by the lock or latch against falling.

Mounted on the inner face of the door 8 and projecting toward the front of the case will be found bracket members 1.2, the detailed construction of which is best shown in Figs. t and 5. As here shown, the brackets 12 are spaced slightly inwardly from the vertical edges of the door 8 and a considerable distance upwardly from the bottom of the door.

Arranged within the display chamber 3 is a loose, movable, or swingable bottom board or shelf 13 which rests at one end upon the brackets 12 of the door when .in its upper position (see Fig. 1). in order to prevent undesired movement or shifting of the shelf 13 it is preferably secured at the other end to the Stationary frame member 111-, of the show case, as by means of hinges 15. Thus it will be seen that the display bottom 13 occupies an inclined position, thereby raising the cigar boxes, indicated by means of dotted lines, to such position that the purchaser can as readily view the cigars in the bones of the rear row as he can those in the front row. To prevent the bones from sliding downwardly on the shelf or bottom 13 suitable stop ineii'ibers 16 are provided.

In order to remove any desired box it is but necessary for th'e clerk to release the lock or catch 11 and permit the door to move to its lower position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. As the door S moves downwardly the supporting brackets 12 obviously move with it, thus permitting the supporting shelf or bottom 13 to swing downwardly by gravity until it rests upon the upper side of the cross or division wall t. The brackets 12 move farther downwardly with the door, suitable openings 17 being provided in the wall 4- to permit passage therethrough. Thus when the door is in its lower position, as shown in Fig. 2, the clerk can readily grasp thel desired box, submit it to the customer and as easily return it to its proper position in the case. vWhen the door 8 is pulled upwardly the brackets 12 again engage the bottom of the shelf or display bottom 13 and swing it upwardly to full line position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the cigar boxes again occupy the position best adapted to display the entire contents of the show case to the prospective purchasers.

ln order to reduce the friction incident to operation and also to eliminate rapid wear, l prefer to provide the bracket 12 with a rounded or curved outer portion l2 and to provide the under surface of the display shelf or bottom 13 with a metal plate 13 atV the point .vhere it engages the bracket. rhus the shelf and the bracket 19 provide metal to metal. contact which enables the necessary relative sliding movement to take place without imposing rapid wear and with but little friction.

l prefer to provide rubber stops or bump- Y ers if) and 20, respectively, so that when the shelf i3 and the door 8 reach their lower positions they will engage the rubber stops and reduce the. noise and strains which', would otherwise be incident to operation.

inasmuch as fl 's disclosure will readily suggest to others .killed in the art to which this appertains modified structures whereby the substantial objects and purposes of my invention may attained, l do not wish to limited to the specific construction herein .ce shown and described, except only as may be necessary by limitations in the hereunto appended claims.

l claim:

1. it show ease embodying therein, a movable display' shelf, a vertically positioned slidable door, and means operated b y movement of the door for supporting the shelf in an inclined position. v

2. fr show case embodying therein, a swingable display shelf, slidable door and means actuated closing movement of' the door to swing said shelf to an inclined position.

3. A show caso embodying therein, a movable display shelf, a vertically slidable door, and means carried by the door for supporting said shelf in an inclined position.

s. A show case ,embodying therein, a swingable shelf, vertically movable door, bracket means secured to the door and positioned to engage said shelf when the door is moved upwardly.

A show case embodying therein, a swingable shelf, a vertically .novable door, bracket means having a curved upper contact face secured to the door ant. positioned to engage said shelf when the door is moved upwardly.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand, this 12th day of April, 1922.

'WALTER-J. VVARKENTEN. 

